FEED PUMP, ESPECIALLY FUEL FEED PUMP FOR A VEHICLE HEATER

• US 20170096989A1
• Filed: 09/30/2016
• Published: 04/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eberspacher Climate Control Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Eberspacher Climate Control Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: HUMBURG, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,480,497 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 13/00 Pumps specially modified to deliver fixed or variable measured quantities
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/04 using solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/042 the solenoid motor being separated from the fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 35/00 Magnetostrictive devices integrated devices or assemblies of multiple devices H10N39/00
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 35/85 Magnetostrictive active materials

Abstract

A feed pump (10), especially fuel feed pump for a vehicle heater, includes a pump piston (36) movable to and fro in a pump chamber (72). The pump piston ejects and receives fluid. A driving arrangement (30) drives the pump piston (36). The driving arrangement (30) includes at least one driving element (28) made of magnetic shape memory material.

Claims

1. A feed pump for feeding fuel for a vehicle heater, the feed pump comprising:

a pump chamber;

a pump piston movable to and from in the pump chamber for ejecting and receiving fluid; and

a driving arrangement driving the pump piston, the driving arrangement comprising at least one driving element made of a magnetic shape memory material.

2. A feed pump in accordance with claim 1, wherein the magnetic shape memory material comprises a magnetic shape memory alloy comprised of NiMnGa alloy.

3. A feed pump in accordance with claim 1, wherein the driving arrangement further comprises a magnetic field generation unit with an electrically excitable coil arrangement generating a magnetic field acting on the at least one driving element.

4. A feed pump in accordance with claim 3, wherein the at least one driving element acts on the pump piston in a first action direction when the magnetic field is generated, and the at least one driving element acts on the pump piston in a direction in which fluid is ejected from the pump chamber upon action in the first action direction.

5. A feed pump in accordance with claim 4, wherein the driving arrangement further comprises a resetting element for acting on the pump piston in a second action direction directed essentially opposite the first action direction, and the resetting element acts on the pump piston in the direction in which fluid is received in the pump chamber in case of action in the second action direction.

6. A feed pump in accordance with claim 5, wherein a second resetting element is associated with the at least one driving element for resetting the at least one driving element into an initial state to be assumed when no magnetic field is generated.

7. A feed pump in accordance with claim 6, wherein the resetting element includes the second resetting element.

8. A feed pump in accordance with claim 6, wherein the resetting element or the second resetting element comprises a resetting spring or both the resetting element and the second resetting element comprises a resetting spring.

9. A feed pump in accordance with claim 5, wherein the resetting element comprises a resetting spring.

10. A feed pump in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a driving element housing providing a fluid inlet duct, wherein the at least one driving element is arranged in the driving element housing.

11. A feed pump in accordance with claim 1, wherein the pump piston is movable to and fro in a pump piston housing in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the feed pump.

12. A feed pump in accordance with claim 10, further comprising a transmission element coupling the at least one driving element with the pump piston for transmitting driving force, wherein the pump piston is movable to and fro in a pump piston housing in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the feed pump and the driving element housing and the pump piston housing provide a passage opening for the transmission element.

13. A feed pump in accordance with claim 10, wherein the pump piston is movable to and fro in a pump piston housing in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the feed pump and the driving element housing and the pump piston housing provide a passage opening for the passage of fluid.

14. A feed pump in accordance with claim 11, wherein a pump chamber housing providing the pump chamber is provided on the pump piston housing.

15. A feed pump in accordance with claim 14, wherein a resetting element acts on the pump piston and is supported at the pump chamber housing.

16. A feed pump in accordance with claim 1, wherein a fluid passage duct passing through the pump piston is provided in the pump piston.

17. A feed pump in accordance with claim 1, wherein a nonreturn inlet valve is provided in the pump piston.

18. A feed pump in accordance with claim 1, wherein a nonreturn outlet valve is provided in a pump chamber housing.

19. A feed pump in accordance with claim 1, wherein the magnetic shape memory material is comprised of a magnetic shape memory alloy.